FLIGHT, 3 July i953 13
AIRCRAFT INTELLIGENCE
LANCE AND SABRE: (Top) One of the latest views of the Saab-32 (A32) Lansen prototype, showing
the small leading-edge fences recently installed. A news item concerning this promising machine
appears on page 10. The "Flight" impression, based on photographs of a model, shows the
prototype of the North American F-100, the latest development of the Sabre. Larger than the present
F-86, the F-100 has a Pratt and Whitney J57 two-spool turbojet, with afterburner, delivering a
thrust of the order of 15,000 lb. The wing is more sharply tapered and is swept back at 45 deg;
rockets are the sole armament and the tailplane has been lowered.
Britain
Vickers V.C. 7. Encouraged by the
smoothness of manufacturer-operator re
lations during the development and intro
duction of the Viscount, Mr. Peter Mase-
fieid is reported to be showing deep interest
in the projected civil version of the Vickers
1000 four-jet transport (already backed by
a military order). The V.C.7 is designed to
carry 100-150 passengers economically on
both long and short routes. If its perform
ance comes up to expectations, the V.C.7
might well be selected as the fixed-wing
replacement for all B.E.A.'s main-line
aircraft. Large helicopters should by tben
be available to carry practically all traffic
on the shortest inter-city routes.
Vickers Armstrongs Viscount. A report
that the Hunting Air Transport, Ltd.,
order for Viscounts involved three aircraft
has now been confirmed.
De Havilland Comet 3. A well-informed
Dutch observer predicts that a K.L.M.
order for Comet 3s will "eventually" be
placed. Such an order would undoubtedly
influence many airlines whose re-equip
ment plans are as yet uncertain.
U.S.A.
Republic F-105. Further to our note on this
aircraft on this page in the May 15th issue,
it can now be said that the F-105 is the big
fighter/bomber, the F-103 being a Mach 2
fighter. The F-105, which has a very thin
delta wing, is the subject of a large U.S.A.F.
production order. Republic are now at
work on the prototype, and are also
developing the RF-105 high-altitude photo-
reconnaissance variant.
Fletcher FD-25B. This newest develop
ment of the Fletcher FD-25 light ground-
attack aircraft, or "baby bomber," is ex
pected to attain 187 m.p.h. on 250 h.p.
Landing speed will be as low as 41 m.p.h.
and take-off, fully loaded, should be
effected in 500ft. Armament L two 0.30m
machine guns, each with 1,000 rounds, and
650 lb of additional stores, bringing the
gross weight to 2,500 lb. Representative
under-wing loads are four 5in R.P.s, napalm
tanks, or two 250 lb G.P. bombs.
Canada
Avro Canada CF-104. An unconfirmed
report has it that Avro Canada are making
a design study for a 35-ton delta-wing
fighter, designated CF-104, powered with
twin jets, and having air-to-air missiles as
its armament.
Italy
AZ-I Project. A new twin-engined trans
port is projected by Filippo Zappata.
Designated AZ-i, it is intended to have
Bristol Proteus 705 turboprops or Wright
Turbo-Cyclones. The Proteus version
should weigh 59,500 lb and the maximum
speed is estimated to be 404 m.p.h.